In nature, we can recognize numerous rhythms. We could say that natural life is permeated by rhythm and that rhythm is one of its most defining elements. There is the rhythm of day and night, the rhythm of the seasons, the rhythm of the tides, etc.

We can observe very short rhythms, lasting only a few minutes, such as breathing and heartbeat, as well as very long rhythms, like the growth of large trees. We can also appreciate the beauty of how each rhythm synchronizes and integrates with others in what we could describe as the dance of life.

These rhythms, which characterize the lives of plants, animals, and humans, are very important in agriculture, and their knowledge and management can be a fundamental tool for achieving good agricultural yields.

The biodynamic calendar for sowing, cultivation, and transplanting, used in biodynamic agriculture, is based on the knowledge not only of the rhythms of plants and animals but also of cosmic rhythms, which influence both plants and animals.

Agricultural rhythms have long been marked by specific religious festivities in almost every country in the world. In Italy, for example, we have Saint Martin in November, marking the beginning of the agricultural year, and Saint Lucy in December, indicating the darkest time of the year, up to Saint Lawrence in August, marking the end of summer for the farmer.

Each of these moments is suitable for carrying out certain agricultural practices, and following these rhythms facilitates the work of the farmer.

In biodynamic agriculture, these rhythms have been studied for almost a hundred years, and through the experience of many farmers, useful guidelines for cultivation and livestock farming have been developed. Every year, the biodynamic calendar is created using astronomical data, which vary each time.

So, how can we recognize these rhythms, which are so important for life on Earth, despite such variability?

Experience has led farmers not only to recognize them but also to be able to predict them to some extent. The biodynamic calendar thus provides indications that can be interpreted by experts and also suggestions for those who are not yet very experienced.

It is important to keep in mind that concerning cosmic influences on plants, there are priorities, meaning some celestial bodies must be considered first.

The Sun is the fundamental celestial body that determines the seasons and the alternation of day and night. It also determines the growth, maturation, and ultimately the death of plants. The Sun generates the synthesis of sugars and starches in plants, so special attention must be paid to it. It is important to sow and transplant in the correct season and preferably on a day when the sun is shining, even if sowing in a greenhouse. The effect of the Sun is evident but changes in quality and quantity based on latitude and soil geology. Thus, the quality of an influence is crucial for the maturation of fruits and grape clusters. Furthermore, the constellations behind the Sun during the year also favor the development of some organoleptic qualities over others.

However, the Moon, with its light rays, is also capable of imparting a qualitative impulse on plants, favoring or inhibiting the quality of each organ, such as causing lettuce to bolt early. The Moon plays an important role in favoring the qualities of a root over a leaf, a flower, or a fruit.

In biodynamic agriculture, we do not only consider quantitative aspects but also the qualities of grapes that will produce a vinegar full of vital forces with unique, high-level organoleptic qualities. These qualities derive from cultivation that follows natural rhythms in harmony between the Earth and the cosmos.**